This course provides an overview of the theoretical and applied foundations for the use of corpora in both synchronic and diachronic linguistics, with particular reference to the English language. It explores general issues related to the use of empirical methods in linguistics, including the statistical analysis of textual data. Students will be introduced to methods for the construction and querying of corpora, as well as the principal linguistic resources and tools available today. Special attention will also be given to the study of migration-related terminology and lexicography, examining how corpus analysis can support the understanding, documentation, and critical discussion of key terms and evolving discourse in the context of migration studies.